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Records: Ferentz’s Son Will Report to Iowa AD

Sports

March 7th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University officials say newly-hired Iowa offensive line coach Brian Ferentz will report to athletics director Gary Barta and not his father, head coach Kirk Ferentz. The university on Wednesday released details of a plan to manage the conflict of interest between Brian Ferentz and his father, which is required under a school policy that discourages nepotism in hiring and salary decisions. Barta wrote in a memo that he was “very interested in pursuing” Brian Ferentz to join the football staff due to his experience and success as an assistant for the New England Patriots. Barta wrote that he, not Kirk Ferentz, interviewed four applicants for the job and recommended Brian Ferentz based on his “credentials and candidacy.” Under the plan, Barta will conduct Brian Ferentz’s annual performance review and compensation.

Backyard and Beyond 03-07-2012

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

March 7th, 2012 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Denise Coder, Cass County Home Care Site Manager, about some Women’s Health Preventative Check-Up opportunities in the area.

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NW IA School Superintendent explains why “Bully” film is not shown to students

News

March 7th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A school superintendent in northwest Iowa is responding to media reports that he rejected the showing of a documentary on bullying to students. Sioux City Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman says the movie, which is titled “Bully,” cannot be shown in any schools right now. “Truthfully, at this time, the district cannot show the film in our schools as the film is not yet ready for school based release,” Gausman said. “When the film becomes available, we will make the appropriate decisions related to how we might infuse the film into the very progressive activities we have already placed in our schools.” 

Parts of the documentary were filmed in a Sioux City elementary school. The Motion Picture Association of America has given the film an “R” rating for foul language, upsetting supporters of the project who believe it will prevent the film from being shown to students to demonstrate the impact of bullying. Gausman says parental involvement is important in teaching children about bullying — which goes beyond whatever decision is made on the R-rated documentary. “We must have parent engagement to watch a film with that rating,” Gausman said. “Similarly, the solutions for bullying in the American school system must also include parental engagement and community engagement as we enact any programs, curriculum or even documentaries as a solution for the challenges that face the American schools related to bullying.” 

The Sioux City School District has partnered with the Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention for 12 years in efforts to stop bullying and harassment in public schools.

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

House OKs bill replacing term ‘mental retardation’

News

March 7th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill that would remove the phrase “mental retardation” from most state laws has passed the Iowa Legislature and now will go to Gov. Terry Branstad. The House unanimously approved the bill Tuesday. The Senate had earlier passed the bill, also unanimously.  Branstad has indicated his support for the change. The move is part of a national effort to encourage governments and individuals to stop using the term.
     Activists say the term “mental retardation” can be hurtful to people who have a variety of disabilities.
 
     In Iowa, the phrase “intellectual disability” will be used instead.

Harlan teen to appear in court next week on drug charges

News

March 7th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A Harlan teen arrested last Summer on drug charges is in trouble with the law again. According to court records, 18-year old Brett Scott Wilke faces numerous felony drug charges and an aggravated misdemeanor drug charge, after he was arrested following an ongoing Harlan Police Department investigation into his alleged activities.

Wilke faces a felony charge of Ongoing Criminal Conduct, three felony charges of delivery of a controlled substance, and an aggravated misdemeanor charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance in a structure. If convicted of the felony and aggravated misdemeanor charges, he faces up to 42 years in jail, with additional fines totaling $17,500.

According to Harlan Police reports, Wilke allegedly sold marijuana to a confidential informant on three separate occasions in January and February. The Harlan Tribune reports Wilke allegedly sold a baggie of a green leafy substance that field tested positive for marijuana to the informant. The amount of each sale was 3.8, 4.2 and 5.4 grams. One of the sales was within 1,000 feet of a school. Wilke was taken into custody following a traffic stop February 23rd in Harlan. He was released on a $15,000 bond and ordered to appear in court for his Preliminary Hearing on March 15th.

Wilke was also arrested on May 30th, 2011, on Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges. Wilke was 17 at the time. His case was handled by Juvenile Court Services.

MERVIN W. CHRISTENSEN, 79, of Manning (Svcs 3-10-12)

Obituaries

March 7th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

MERVIN W. CHRISTENSEN, 79, of Manning, died Tue., March 6th, at the Manning Regional Healthcare Center. Funeral services for MERVIN CHRISTENSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat., March 10th, at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. Johnson and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Manning has the arrangements.

Visitation at the church is from 5-7pm Fri., March 9th.

Burial will be in the Manning Cemetery.

Mervin Christensen is survived by:

His children – Starre Haney, of Mesa, AZ; Renee Stangl, of Manning, & Michael Christensen, of Lake City.

His sisters – Mildred Klemish, of Anita; Mardelle Maley, of Atlantic; & Maxine Lamberston, of Atlantic.

6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Nebraska man arrested in Pottawattamie County after manhunt

News

March 7th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Pottawattamie County say a Nebraska man was arrested Tuesday morning on numerous charges in the northwestern part of the County, following a manhunt. Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Dwayne Riche told KJAN News 28-year old Louis Enrique Cruz-Guzman, of Bellevue, NE, was taken into custody at around 11:37-a.m. after being flushed out of an embankment near a creek by a Pott. County K-9 unit about 6-miles north-northeast of Council Bluffs. Sgt. Riche says the incident began when authorities received word at around 7:50-a.m., that a man matching Cruz-Guzman’s description was on the property of the Hazel-Dell Township Cemetery at about 250th and Juniper Road. At around 10:15-a.m., deputies were called to L-34 and Badger Avenue for a report the same subject was walking toward Weston Avenue. 

A property owner in the area, Brian Driver, saw Cruz-Guzman walking on his property carrying a claw hammer Driver believed came from a shed or outbuilding on his property.  When Driver confronted the man and said he was going to call the Sheriff’s Office, Cruz-Guzman took off on foot through a corn field headed toward a wooded creek line. Moments later, Phil Cock, who was on an ATV fixing fences, saw the suspect running toward the creek in the vicinity of Juniper Road and L-34. 

A deputy who responded to the scene hopped on the ATV with Cock and together the men began a search for Cruz-Guzman. At that same time, authorities received another report the same man allegedly stole a bicycle from a female residents’ backyard, and was trying to get away. The suspect abandoned the bike and once again took off on foot. Numerous agencies responded to conduct a search for the man, including the Iowa State Patrol and a Pott. County K-9 unit.  Area schools were notified about the incident and placed on “lock-down,” as a security measure. As the K-9 “Francisco,” and his handler, Deputy Brian Miller, began walking the creek line, the suspect heard the team approaching and surrendered to the State Patrol near the 14.5-mile marker of Interstate 80. Cruz-Guzman was wearing only his boxer shorts, as his shoes, pants and shirt were frozen and discarded in the water. 

Cruz-Guzman was arrested on a warrant out of Boone County, Iowa, for Probation Revocation and Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Deliver. He was also charged in Pottawattamie County, with Burglary in the 3rd Degree…2 counts of Trespassing…Interference with Official Acts and Theft in the 5th Degree. He was being held this (Wednesday) morning in the Pott. County Jail on $10,000 bond.

8AM Sportscast 03-07-2012

Podcasts, Sports

March 7th, 2012 by admin

w/ Jim Field

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8AM Newscast 03-07-2012

News, Podcasts

March 7th, 2012 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

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Heartbeat Today 03-07-2012

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

March 7th, 2012 by admin

Jim Field talks about planning for Spring Gardening.

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